The stick and ball sports have their All-Star games but, it is usually more of a social event instead of a hard fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each otherMore >>

The stick-and-ball sports have their All-Star games but they are usually more a social event than a hard-fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each other with the winner leaving with at least a million dollars in their pocket.More >>

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy afterMore >>

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy after a late surge took him to the win Saturday night.More >>

Last week's white knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, South Carolina. DarlingtonMore >>

Last week's white-knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, SC.More >>

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstormMore >>

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstorm with one-eighth-inch hail that halted the event with 63 laps to go.More >>

The only thing that is predictable about Talladega is that it's unpredictable. You never know what to expect and the final lap is always one of the most exciting laps in all of NASCAR racing. Maybe theMore >>

The only thing that is predictable about Talladega is that it's unpredictable. You never know what to expect, and the final lap is always one of the most exciting laps in all of NASCAR racing.More >>

LONG POND, PA (RNN) - The lady standing next to me in the media center at Atlanta Motorspeedway turned and said, "I'm so proud of him" as Joey Logano was introduced as the newest driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.

That was his mom. His second-biggest supporter was Roush Racing driver Mark Martin.

Sunday, Logano had to move his mentor out of the way to take his second Cup Series career victory in the Pocono 400.

The age difference between race winner Logano and second-place finisher Mark Martin is 31 years. That's a lot of experience to overcome, but a strategically placed bump with just a handful of laps to go was the ploy that allowed the 22-year-old Logano to finish in front of his friend.

Martin called the unexpected move "a bump and run."

"It has been acceptable in this racing for a long time," Martin said. "It's not how I would have done it, but certainly if I'd had a fast-enough car, he would have gotten a return. But I couldn't quite keep up with him."

Martin was disappointed he couldn't close the win for his new team at Michael Waltrip Racing, but he was happy to see Logano's newfound confidence.

"He's been kind of in a stall in his career or in his progression with the Cup Series," Martin said after the race. "It looks like the last couple of weeks that maybe that's starting to turn. I've always known since I saw him drive at 11 years old that he could be a Cup champion. I knew it then."

Logano had a dominant car Sunday for most of the day. But Martin jumped to the lead on the last restart and it looked like the young driver was going to settle for second place.

The only thing he could hope for was a mistake by his mentor and that happened with three laps to go.

"Joey was just stronger than we were," Martin said. "I was pushing as hard as I could push and had a little slip there off of (Turn) 3, and he was able to get up on me and get by. We certainly would have got back up there and raced for the win after the pass if we'd had the car. But he was able to pull away."

In a contract renewal year, Logano has been hearing all the rumors that he was not ready for Cup Series racing and that he would be replaced next season in the No. 20 car at JGR.

Logano hoped that the win would silence his critics and give him a chance to stay with the team that brought him up so quickly.

"My hope is to obviously stay with what I've got and keep working with Jason," Logano said. "All I can do is stay focused on my job, and that's driving the race car. Whatever happens from there happens. I did my job today with winning the race, and my team did a great job, too, and all the puzzle pieces will fall together eventually."

The relationship between Martin and Logano has not changed over the years and Logano frequently reaches out to the veteran for advice.

The win won't change that dynamic but Logano won't deny this is an important year for his career.

"Whether it's a contract year or not, you're always out there to do the same thing," Logano said. "So for me, I'm out there to win every race and that doesn't change from what it was this year or three years ago. Is there something extra in your mind? Yeah, there's something extra on your mind that you have to figure out before the season is over. But at the same time, you go out there and focus on your job."

Whether Logano continues to pilot the No. 20 car next season will be worked out over the remainder of the year. The relationship between the student and the mentor will most certainly continue.

As for the proud mother sitting on the sideline trying to help promote her son, I only have one comment.

The stick and ball sports have their All-Star games but, it is usually more of a social event instead of a hard fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each otherMore >>

The stick-and-ball sports have their All-Star games but they are usually more a social event than a hard-fought competition. NASCAR's version places the past season's best teams against each other with the winner leaving with at least a million dollars in their pocket.More >>

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy afterMore >>

Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. are but a few of the sports greats who have gone to victory lane in the Southern 500. Matt Kenseth can now add his name to that historic trophy after a late surge took him to the win Saturday night.More >>

Last week's white knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, South Carolina. DarlingtonMore >>

Last week's white-knuckle action at Talladega pitted driver against driver. This week it's a battle of another form as they try to defeat a "Track Too Tough to Tame" in Darlington, SC.More >>

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstormMore >>

Talladega Speedway has long been known for its exciting racing action. However, the fans at Sunday's Aaron's 499 Cup Series event experienced some additional excitement in another form as a large thunderstorm with one-eighth-inch hail that halted the event with 63 laps to go.More >>

The only thing that is predictable about Talladega is that it's unpredictable. You never know what to expect and the final lap is always one of the most exciting laps in all of NASCAR racing. Maybe theMore >>

The only thing that is predictable about Talladega is that it's unpredictable. You never know what to expect, and the final lap is always one of the most exciting laps in all of NASCAR racing.More >>

Richmond International Raceway has always been known as a place for action but Saturday night's Toyota Owner's 400 had many Cup Series drivers shaking their heads. The first portion of the event belongedMore >>

Richmond International Raceway has always been known as a place for action, but Saturday night's Toyota Owner's 400 had many Cup Series drivers shaking their heads.More >>

Growing up, Clint Bowyer cut his teeth driving the short track circuit of the Midwest. Now that he is a big time Sprint Cup driver, he is hoping that his short track experience puts him back in the winner'sMore >>

Growing up, Clint Bowyer cut his teeth driving the short track circuit of the Midwest. Now that he is a big time Sprint Cup driver, he is hoping that his short track experience puts him back in the winner's circle this week in Richmond.More >>

When Matt Kenseth made the unprecedented move from his long time home at Roush/Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, many expected him to remain a championship threat; just not this soon. Capturing his secondMore >>

When Matt Kenseth made the unprecedented move from his longtime home at Roush/Fenway Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing, many expected him to remain a championship threat; just not this soon.More >>

Richard Petty once told me that bad luck comes in cycles. He said that you just continue to work hard and one day it will turn back around your way. That seems to be the case for the resurgent Kyle BuschMore >>

Richard Petty once told me that bad luck comes in cycles. He said that you just continue to work hard and one day it will turn back around your way. That seems to be the case for the resurgent Kyle Busch as he heads to Kansas this weekend.More >>